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Cañon City School District saw significant reorganization in 2012

By CARIE CANTERBURY canterburyc@ cañoncitydailyrecord.com

Posted:
12/27/2012 10:07:43 PM MST

Madison Exploratory School was consolidated with Skyline Elementary School to establish Cañon Exploratory School. The new school serves kindergarten through fifth grade, with an option for sixth-graders to remain in the program. (Jeff Shane/Daily Record)

Madison Exploratory School founder and former administrator Molly Mary speaks to the new Cañon Exploratory School staff during a training class in the former Garden Park High School building. The consolidation of Madison and Skyline Elementary School was the No. 3 story of the year. (Jeff Shane/Daily Record)

Editor's note: The reorganization of the Cañon City School District is the No. 3 story of 2012.

The Cañon City School District underwent some significant reorganization in 2012 including the consolidation of two elementary schools and the creation of an expanded exploratory school.

The Cañon City School Board in April voted unanimously to close Madison Exploratory School and Skyline Elementary School and to establish a new elementary school, Cañon Exploratory School, in the Skyline School building. The new school serves kindergarten through fifth grade, with an option for sixth-graders to remain in the program.

The decision stemmed from the district facing a budget cut of nearly $1 million for the 2012-13 school year. The district has faced declining enrollment in the last 10 years and had eliminated 40 jobs since 2009.

The board considered several options and recommendations to trim the budget, as well as improve academic achievement and better utilize district facilities. The cost savings of establishing the new school was expected to be about $125,000.

"This action was not taken lightly, obviously, it's closing a school, and it's closing a school that has some pretty passionate parents and has some pretty awesome kids in it," said board member Larry Oddo during the April meeting.

The board made its decision after hearing recommendations from a Budget Reduction Committee comprised of school board members, parents, teachers, support staff, administrators and community agency and business representatives that was formed to find ways to reduce the already-squeezed budget.

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After reviewing an extensive facilities assessment, the committee in February recommended that the board consider closing one or more schools.

The board also had two special meetings in March and April to hear public input on the proposed recommendations.

"It was never our intention to get to our goal simply by closing schools," said board president Honey Moschetti during the April meeting. "Many options were presented, and every line and item was looked at and discussed. Academic achievement was, and is, foremost as we move forward."

The board also approved to establish the former Lincoln Elementary School as the "Lincoln School of Science & Technology" to serve as a vehicle for improving science achievement in the district. In addition, the board approved the consolidation of the alternative Garden Park High School program at the Garden Park facility with Cañon City High School and to move the program into CCHS. GPHS closed, saving the district $87,000.

In November, the Cañon City School Board approved listing contracts with the former Madison School building and the Garden Park Learning Center with Bill Christiansen of Century 21 Real Estate.

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